Japan Australia Pages

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Jetstar Japan

Jetstar.jpg by Justin Griffiths

Japan, the land of the rising sun is about to get an orange star. Jetstar has confirmed plans to set up a low-cost operation in Japan. Asia is now the fastest growing aviation market in the world and Jetstar wants to establish a leading position in the market.

The new venture is to be called Jetstar Japan, and is a partnership between Qantas Airways (Jetstar’s parent company), JAL (Japan Airlines) and Mitsubishi Corporation. It is due to commence towards the end of 2012 with the new airline to fly from Tokyo (Narita) and Osaka (Kansai) to Sapporo, Fukuoka and Okinawa.

The new venture will stimulate the number of visitors from Asia to Japan and hopefully through competition drive down prices in the market. Prices for travel inside Japan will be on average 40% cheaper. All positives in the drive to revitalise the Japanese economy. There is huge potential in the low-cost market which accounts for only 5% market share in Japan compared to 20-30% in Europe and the US.

From Australia, Jetstar flies to Tokyo and Osaka via Cairns and the Gold Coast.